Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and control method therefor

ABSTRACT

An information processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a first setting unit configured to set information about a screen indicating work desired to be performed by a user, a second setting unit configured to set, before the work performed by the user is completed, processing to be performed after the work, and a transmission unit configured to transmit an instruction for displaying the screen and another instruction for causing the processing to be performed. The image forming apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display the screen on a display unit based on the instruction, and a control unit configured to perform the processing based on the other instruction upon completion of the work.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/884,543, filed May 27, 2020, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2019-101781, filed May 30, 2019, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing system, aninformation processing apparatus, and a control method therefor.

Description of the Related Art

When a user is unsure of how to use or set a multi-function peripheral(MFP), the user makes a phone call to a call center to inquire about it.The user tells an operator in the call center what the user wants to do,and performs an operation according to an instruction from the operator.

In a case where what the user wants to do is complicated or there is aplurality of setting items to be configured by the user, it isundesirably time-consuming if the operator instructs the user about alloperations over the phone and the user follows them. Under thesecircumstances, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-163292discusses a system that connects the MFP operated by the user and aninformation processing apparatus operated by the operator via a network,and allows the operator to remotely operate the MFP by operating theinformation processing apparatus.

What the user calling the call center wants to do may contain both asetting of the MFP that the operator can configure from a remotelocation, and manual work that cannot be operated by the operator fromthe remote location and needs to be operated by the user.

For example, when the user attempts to load new paper into a cassetteand adjust an image quality using the paper while employing the methoddiscussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-163292, thecase necessitates the following setting by the operator and manual workby the user. First, the operator sets the size of the paper to load intothe paper feeding cassette. Then, the operator instructs the user toload the paper into the paper feeding cassette to which the paper sizeis set over the phone. After the user loads the paper into the paperfeeding cassette, the operator sets the type of the paper loaded in thepaper feeding cassette, and configures a setting required to print animage for adjusting the image quality and instructs the user to start toprint the image.

In this manner, in the case where the required operations include boththe setting of the image forming apparatus and the manual work by theuser, the operator waits for the completion of the manual work by theuser, and then sets the content of the processing to perform after themanual work and instructs the user to start the processing. Thus, a longtime is undesirably taken until the operator completes the requiredsetting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing system includes an image forming apparatus including adisplay unit configured to display an image thereon, and an informationprocessing apparatus configured to communicate with the image formingapparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a first settingunit configured to set work desired to be performed by a user operatingthe image forming apparatus, a second setting unit configured to set,before the work performed by the user is completed, processing to beperformed by the image forming apparatus after the work set by the firstsetting unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit aninstruction for displaying an image indicating the work set by the firstsetting unit on the display unit, and another instruction for causingthe image forming apparatus to perform the processing set by the secondsetting unit. The image forming apparatus includes a reception unitconfigured to receive the instruction and the other instructiontransmitted from the transmission unit, a display control unitconfigured to display the image indicating the work set by the firstsetting unit on the display unit based on the instruction received bythe reception unit, and a control unit configured to perform theprocessing based on the other instruction upon completion of the work bythe user.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an informationprocessing system according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating configurations of a scanner and aprinter of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFPaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a maintenanceterminal according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when paperinformation is set by operating the MFP according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen when apaper size used for automatic detection of paper on the MFP is setaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating examples of paper settingsscreens of the MFP according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processingbetween the MFP and the maintenance terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work screen displayedon a display of an operation unit of the MFP according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of generating maintenancedata on the maintenance terminal according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of a serial numberinput screen and a maintenance data generation screen, respectively, onthe maintenance terminal according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table of device typeinformation data stored in the maintenance terminal according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of usersettings according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data setting screen onthe maintenance terminal according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configurationof the MFP according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work informationsetting screen on the maintenance terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of themaintenance data on the maintenance terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams each illustrating an example of a tableused in processing of generating image data by the maintenance terminaland content of an image file according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of datatransmitted from the maintenance terminal to the MFP according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing of receiving themaintenance data by the MFP according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration ofan information processing system capable of providing a maintenanceservice of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) via a network.

MFPs 105 and 106 are image forming apparatuses installed in a userenvironment 104 and operated by a user. The MFPs 105 and 106 areconnected to a network 103 and can communicate with another MFP and amaintenance terminal 102 in a call center 101.

The maintenance terminal 102 is an information processing apparatus suchas a personal computer (PC) installed in the call center 101. Themaintenance terminal 102 is operated by an operator in the call center101. In the present exemplary embodiment, the MFPs 105 and 106 in theuser environment 104 are maintained and operated by the maintenanceterminal 102 in the call center 101, and setting items thereof are setby using data received from the maintenance terminal 102.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configurationof the MFP 105. The hardware configuration will be described using theMFP 105 as an example here, but the MFP 106 also has a similar hardwareconfiguration. Further, the information processing system may beconstructed using a single function peripheral (SFP) instead of the MFPin the present exemplary embodiment.

The MFP 105 includes a scanner 319 and a printer 300.

The scanner 319 conveys documents 303 on a document tray 302 sheet bysheet. Each of the documents 303 is conveyed to a feeding-readingdocument glass platen 312, and is exposed by an exposure unit 313. Lightto which the document 303 is exposed by the exposure unit 313 isreflected from the document 303, and a result thereof is input to acharge coupled device (CCD) sensor unit 316 and converted into anelectric signal.

The printer 300 conveys paper contained in a cassette 331 or 332 andforms an image on the paper. The printer 300 controls a laser unit 322based on image data, and forms an image on each of photosensitivemembers 323, 324, 325, and 326 of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), andblack (K), respectively. The printer 300 transfers and fixes the imageformed using each of the colors of toner onto the paper, and dischargesthe paper to outside the printer 300.

A paper length guide 339 is a guide set to match the paper length of thepaper contained in the cassette 331. A paper length switch 341 is usedto detect the position of the paper length guide 339 and to detect thepaper length size. A paper width guide 340 is a guide set to match thewidth of the paper contained in the cassette 331. A paper width switch342 is used to detect the position of the paper width guide 340 and todetect the paper width.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating hardware of the MFP 105.The MFP 106 is configured similarly to the MFP 105.

A control unit 400 including a central processing unit (CPU) 401controls operation of the overall MFP 105. The CPU 401 reads out acontrol program stored in a read only memory (ROM) 402 and performsvarious kinds of control such as control of a reading device andtransmission. A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 404 is used as atemporarily storage area, such as a main memory and a work area of theCPU 401.

A hard disk drive (HDD) 416 is a nonvolatile memory connected to thecontrol unit 400 via an input/output (I/O) control unit 412. The HDD 416stores image data temporarily saved in the DRAM 404 under the control bythe CPU 401. An operation unit interface (I/F) 414 connects an operationunit 415 and the control unit 400 to each other.

The operation unit 415 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panelhaving a touch panel function, a numeric keypad, and various kinds ofbuttons. The user inputs various kinds of settings by operating theoperation unit 415.

A printer I/F 409 connects the printer 300 and the control unit 400 toeach other. A CPU 411 in the printer 300 communicates with the HDD 416and the CPU 401 via the printer I/F 409 and the I/O control unit 412including a serial communication controller 413.

Image data to be printed by the printer 300 is transferred from thecontrol unit 400 via the printer I/F 409, and is printed on a recordingmedium by the printer 300.

A scanner I/F 407 connects the scanner 319 and the control unit 400 toeach other. The scanner 319 reads out an image on the document 303 togenerate image data (image file), and inputs the image data to thecontrol unit 400 via the scanner I/F 407.

The MFP 105 can transmit the image data (image file) generated by thescanner 319 by file transmission or by an e-mail. A network I/F 405connects the control unit 400 to the network 103.

A graphic processor 403 performs, on the image data temporarily saved inthe DRAM 404, a color space conversion such as a conversion from thered, green, and blue (RGB) color space to the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, andBlack (CMYK) color space, scaling processing, and layout processing ofcombining a plurality of pieces of image data saved in the DRAM 404.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of themaintenance terminal 102.

The maintenance terminal 102 includes a computer 200, a display 208 thatdisplays an image thereon, and an input device 209 for entering an inputinto the computer 200. The input device 209 is a device such as akeyboard and a mouse. In the present exemplary embodiment, the computer200, the display 208, and the input device 209 will be collectivelyreferred to as the information processing apparatus. The informationprocessing apparatus may be an apparatus in which the computer 200, thedisplay 208, and the input device 209 are integrated.

The computer 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a DRAM 203, a HDD 204that is a large-capacity storage area, a graphic processor 205, an I/O206 that is an input/output circuit, and a network I/F 207.

The CPU 201 transfers a general-purpose control program stored in theHDD 204 to the DRAM 203 based on a basic control program stored in theROM 202, and operates based on the transferred general-purpose controlprogram.

The DRAM 203 is used as a work area of the CPU 201, and is used as anarea for temporarily saving information from the I/O 206 andtransmission and reception data to and from the network I/F 207, and awork area of the graphic processor 205. Further, the HDD 204 is used asan area for storing the image data and a program for maintenance.

The maintenance terminal 102 is connected to the network 103 via thenetwork I/F 207, and is connected to the MFPs 105 and 106.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7A and 7B, an operation requiredfor the user to register, in the MFP 105, information about paper tonewly use by operating the MFP 105 in the present exemplary embodimentwill be described.

To use the new paper on the MFP 105, it is necessary to set a paper sizeand a paper type of the paper to enable a fixing unit, a photosensitivedrum, a conveyance roller, and a development unit of the MFP 105 tooperate with settings appropriate for the kind of the paper.Conventionally, the user has configured the setting of the paper sizeand the paper type of the paper using the following procedure.

When the user presses a not-illustrated setting key provided on theoperation unit 415, a selection screen indicating a plurality of settingitems is displayed on a LCD panel of the operation unit 415. When theuser selects “PREFERENCES” on the selection screen, a setting menuscreen 701 illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the LCD panel of theoperation unit 415.

The user selects “PAPER SIZE FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION IN PAPER CASSETTE”704 on the setting menu screen 701, and configures a setting regardingdetection of the paper size of one of the cassettes 331 and 332 intowhich the user intends to load the new paper.

When the user selects “PAPER SIZE FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION IN PAPERCASSETTE” 704, a detection size setting screen 801 illustrated in FIG. 6is displayed on the display of the operation unit 415. The user sets thepaper size used in the detection with respect to the cassette to use onthe detection size setting screen 801. An item 802 is a setting itemcorresponding to the cassette 331, and the user can select whether todetect the paper size of the paper loaded in the cassette 331 in termsof an A/B size or an inch size. An item 803 is a setting itemcorresponding to the cassette 332, and the user can select whether todetect the paper size of the paper loaded in the cassette 332 in termsof an A/B size or an inch size.

After setting the size information of the cassette into which the userintends to load the paper, the user selects an “OK” button 804.

After selecting the “OK” button 804, the user opens the cassette towhich the paper size for automatic detection is set, loads the paper touse in printing, and then closes the cassette. Upon closing of thecassette by the user, the MFP 105 detects the paper size based onoutputs from the paper length switch 341 and the paper width switch 342,and stores the detected paper size and the cassette into the DRAM 404 inassociation with each other. With this operation, the setting of thepaper size of the paper loaded into the cassette is completed.

Next, the user sets “PAPER SETTINGS” 703, and sets the type of the paperloaded into the cassette. When the user selects “PAPER SETTINGS” 703, apaper setting screen 901 illustrated in FIG. 7A is displayed on the LCDpanel of the operation unit 415. The paper setting screen 901 is ascreen on which types of paper usable in the present cassette aredisplayed in a list form, and is a screen used by the user to select thetype of the paper loaded into the present cassette from among thedisplayed paper types.

A button 902 is a button for displaying the type of the paper loadedinto the cassette 331 on the paper setting screen 901. When the button902 is selected, the paper size and the paper type currently set to thecassette 331 are displayed in a region 905. A button 903 is a button fordisplaying the type of the paper loaded into the cassette 332. A “SET”button 904 is a button for setting the type of the paper loaded into thecurrently selected cassette. When the user selects the “SET” button 904,a paper selection screen 907 illustrated in FIG. 7B is displayed on theLCD panel. An “OK” button 906 is a button for ending the setting of thepaper on the paper setting screen 901. When the user selects the “OK”button 906, the setting menu screen 701 is displayed on the LCD panel ofthe operation unit 415.

The paper selection screen 907 is a screen for selecting the type of thepaper loaded into the currently selected cassette. A plurality ofbuttons for selecting the type of the paper to use, from among papertypes with paper information thereof registered in advance, is displayedin a region 908. The user selects a button corresponding to the paperloaded in the present cassette from among the buttons displayed in theregion 908, and selects an “OK” button 912. When the user selects the“OK” button 912, information indicating the cassette and informationindicating the type of the paper are stored into the DRAM 404 inassociation with each other. Then, the paper setting screen 901 isdisplayed on the LCD panel of the operation unit 415.

When the user selects a “TO DETAILED SETTINGS” button 910 afterselecting the button from the region 908, a not-illustrated screen forchanging settings of the button selected from the region 908 isdisplayed. The user can set the name and the basis weight of the paperregarding each of the buttons displayed in the region 908 via thenot-illustrated screen. The user becomes able to use the new paper forprinting by performing the above-described operation. The setting of thecassette into which the paper is loaded and the setting of the paperloaded into the cassette have been described above in the presentexample. The user needs to perform a further operation in a case wherethe user wants to check or adjust an image quality of printing using thepaper to newly use after completing the setting of the paper.

As described above, a plurality of settings is necessary when the newpaper is used, and configuring the settings takes time and effort of theuser. If an operator teaches all the operations on the phone and theuser configures the settings by operating the MFP while talking with theoperator on the phone, a heavier load is imposed on the user. Thus, inthe present exemplary embodiment, the operator generates maintenancedata by operating the maintenance terminal 102, and the MFP 105configures the setting and displays a screen indicating required workbased on the maintenance data, thereby saving the time and effort of theuser.

Now, an outline of a flow of processing performed by the user, the MFP105, the maintenance terminal 102, and the operator according to thepresent exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

First, in step S3000, the user makes a phone call to the operator in thecall center 101, and tells the operator the content of the setting orthe maintenance that the user wants to achieve from now. The presentprocessing is described as being started by the user calling theoperator in the present exemplary embodiment. However, the contactmethod is not limited to the telephone call and may also be a messageexchanged with the operator using an application for the maintenanceservice. Another method may be the following. When the user starts upthe application for the maintenance service on the MFP 105, a screen forselecting an item that the user wants to set is displayed. When the userselects the item, the operator in the call center 101 is notified of theinformation.

The operator checks with the user the information regarding the MFP 105and the content of the setting or the maintenance that the user wants toachieve by using the MFP 105. For example, the operator asks the userabout the content of the setting or the maintenance that the user wantsto achieve, such as whether the user wants to perform printing using newpaper, to replace toner, or to clear a jam.

In step S3001, the operator generates setting information required toachieve the setting or the maintenance that the user wants to apply tothe MFP 105 by operating the maintenance terminal 102. For example, ifthe user wants to use new paper, the operator generates, on themaintenance terminal 102, setting information for configuring thesetting regarding the automatic detection of the paper size, workinformation prompting the user to load the paper into the cassette, andsetting information for setting the type of the paper.

In step S3002, the operator transmits the generated setting informationand work information to the MFP 105 by operating the maintenanceterminal 102.

In step S3003, the MFP 105 analyzes the received data and configures thesetting based on the setting information generated by the maintenanceterminal 102. Then, in step S3004, the MFP 105 displays a screenindicating the work required of the user on the LCD panel of theoperation unit 415 based on the work information in the data receivedfrom the maintenance terminal 102. For example, the MFP 105 displays awork screen indicating the work that the operator wants the user toperform as illustrated in FIG. 9 on the LCD panel of the operation unit415 based on the work information received from the maintenance terminal102. In step S3005, the user checks the screen displayed on the LCDpanel of the operation unit 415 and performs the work. FIG. 9illustrates the work screen indicating the work that the user performs.An “OK” button 3101 is a button used by the user to notify the MFP 105of the completion of the work. A “CANCEL” button 3102 is a button forcanceling the setting processing using the information received from themaintenance terminal 102.

In step S3006, the user selects the “OK” button 3101, thereby notifyingthe MFP 105 that the user has completed the work by operating theoperation unit 415. As a result, the MFP 105 detects that the work bythe user is completed. In step S3007, the MFP 105 configures therequired setting based on the rest of the setting information after theuser has completed the required work. For example, in theabove-described example illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7B, after the newpaper is loaded into the cassette, the MFP 105 sets the type of thepaper and adjusts the image quality and the printing using the newpaper. In this case, in step S3007, the MFP 105 performs work ofadjusting the type and the image quality of the paper using the datareceived from the maintenance terminal 102.

Lastly, in step S3008, the MFP 105 notifies the user that the settingsbased on the data received from the maintenance terminal 102 have beencompleted. For example, the MFP 105 displays a screen indicating thatthe setting processing based on the data received from the maintenanceterminal 102 has been completed on the LCD panel of the operation unit415.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, the user canachieve the desired setting or clear an error only by telling theoperator the setting that the user wants to configure and performing thework based on the work information received from the maintenanceterminal 102.

In the description below, processing required to execute the sequenceillustrated in FIG. 8 will be described. Processing in which themaintenance terminal 102 generates the setting information and the workinformation and transmits them to the MFP 105 will be described withreference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10.

The processing illustrated in FIG. 10 is started when the operatorinstructs the maintenance terminal 102 to start up the maintenanceservice application using the input device 209 according to the presentexemplary embodiment. The processing illustrated in FIG. 10 isimplemented by the CPU 201 of the maintenance terminal 102 loading theprogram for maintenance stored in the HDD 204 into the DRAM 203 andexecuting it.

In step S1001, the CPU 201 generates a maintenance data generationscreen 1501 illustrated in FIG. 11A, and displays the maintenance datageneration screen 1501 on the display 208 via the graphic processor 205.The maintenance data generation screen 1501 is a screen including aninput region 1502 and prompting the operator to input a serial numberserving as identification information for identifying the MFP 105. Theoperator asks the user about the serial number of the MFP 105 and inputsthe serial number into the input region 1502. The maintenance terminal102 acquires the serial number of the MFP 105 via the maintenance datageneration screen 1501 to acquire information regarding a device typeand product specifications of the MFP 105. An “END” button 1503 on themaintenance data generation screen 1501 is a button used by the operatorto instruct the maintenance terminal 102 to end the generation of themaintenance data.

In step S1002, the CPU 201 determines whether the serial number isreceived via the maintenance data generation screen 1501. When theoperator inputs the serial number into the input region 1502 and selectsa “NEXT” button 1504 (YES in step S1002), the CPU 201 advances theprocess to step S1003. Until the operator selects the “NEXT” button1504, the CPU 201 repeatedly performs the processing described in stepS1002. If the operator selects the “END” button 1503, the CPU 201 endsthe processing illustrated in FIG. 10.

In step S1003, the CPU 201 saves the serial number input in the inputregion 1502 into the DRAM 203. In step S1003, the CPU 201 acquires adevice type and an Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to theserial number input in the input region 1502 from a table illustrated inFIG. 12 that is stored in the HDD 204, and stores them into the DRAM203. The IP address acquired at this time is used in the transmission ofthe maintenance data. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating anexample of the table stored in the HDD 204. A serial number 1801indicates the serial number of an MFP that the maintenance terminal 102can communicate with. A device type 1802 indicates a device model numberof the MFP identified by each serial number. An IP address 1803indicates the IP address corresponding to the MFP identified by eachserial number. The table illustrated in FIG. 12 can be stored in alocation different from the HDD 204. For example, the table can bestored in a server with which the maintenance terminal 102 cancommunicate, and the CPU 201 acquires information indicating the devicetype and the IP address from the server and stores them into the DRAM203 in step S1003.

In step S1004, the CPU 201 displays a procedure input screen 1505illustrated in FIG. 11B on the display 208. The serial number input inthe input region 1502 on the maintenance data generation screen 1501 isdisplayed in a serial number region 1506. The device type of the MFP 105read out in step S1003 is displayed in a device region 1507. A “SETDATA” button 1508 is a button used by the operator to generate thesetting information to transmit to the MFP 105. A “SET WORK” button 1509is a button used by the operator to generate the work information totransmit to the MFP 105. The operator selects either the “SET DATA”button 1508 or the “SET WORK” button 1509. When the operator selectseither of the buttons 1508 and 1509, the color of the selected button ishighlighted and displayed in a manner indicating that the button is in aselected state. Only one of the “SET DATA” button 1508 and the “SETWORK” button 1509 can be selected, and the operator cannot select bothof them at the same time. If the operator selects an “OK” button 1511while either the “SET DATA” button 1508 or the “SET WORK” button 1509 isselected, a screen for generating the corresponding data to transmit tothe MFP 105 is displayed. Even if the “OK” button 1511 is selected whileneither the “SET DATA” button 1508 nor the “SET WORK” button 1509 isselected, no change occurs in the display on the display 208 of themaintenance terminal 102. A “TRANSMIT” button 1510 is a button forstarting processing of transmitting the setting information and the workinformation generated by the operator until that time to the MFP 105.

The procedure input screen 1505 may be configured to display shipmentdestination information set to the MFP 105 and/or information about anoptional part connected to the MFP 105, such as a cassette, a paper sidedeck, or a finisher, and to receive an input thereof although suchinformation is not illustrated in FIG. 11B.

In step S1005, the CPU 201 determines whether the “TRANSMIT” button 1510is selected. If the “TRANSMIT” button 1510 is selected (YES in stepS1005), the CPU 201 performs processing to be described below in andafter step S1014. If the “TRANSMIT” button 1510 is not selected (NO instep S1005), in step S1006, the CPU 201 determines whether the “OK”button 1511 is selected. If the “OK” button 1511 is not selected (NO instep S1006), the processing returns to step S1005.

If the “OK” button 1511 is selected (YES in step S1006), in step S1007,the CPU 201 determines whether the “SET DATA” button 1508 is selected. Astate where the “SET DATA” button 1508 is not selected (NO in stepS1007) means that the “SET WORK” button 1509 is selected, and the CPU201 performs processing to be described below in and after step S1011.If the “SET DATA” button 1508 is selected (YES in step S1007), the CPU201 acquires, from the HDD 204, tree-structured data of setting itemscorresponding to the device type that is a destination to which themaintenance data will be transmitted, which is illustrated in FIG. 13.Then, in step S1008, the CPU 201 displays, on the display 208, a datasetting screen 1601 illustrated in FIG. 14 that is generated based onthe tree-structured data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the tree-structured dataof the setting items corresponding to the MFP 105 of the device typestored into the DRAM 203 in step S1003. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the tree structure illustrated in FIG. 13 corresponds to atree structure of setting screens displayed on the operation unit 415 ofthe MFP 105. A first hierarchical layer 1215 indicates items displayedwhen the user presses the not-illustrated setting key for configuringoverall apparatus settings of the MFP 105. A second hierarchical layer1216 indicates items that the user can set with respect to the itemselected in the first hierarchical layer 1215. A third hierarchicallayer 1217 indicates items that the user can set with respect to theitem selected in the second hierarchical layer 1216. A fourthhierarchical layer 1218 indicates items that the user can set withrespect to the item selected in the third hierarchical layer 1217. Thenumber written under each of the setting items is information used bythe CPU 201 to identify which data is set.

FIG. 14 illustrates the data setting screen 1601 generated based on thetree structure illustrated in FIG. 13. When the data setting screen 1601is displayed, items initially displayed thereon are a “PREFERENCES”button 1602, an “ADJUSTMENT/MAINTENANCE SETTINGS” button 1616, a“FUNCTION SETTINGS” button 1617, and a “SET DESTINATION” button 1618corresponding to the first hierarchical layer 1215 illustrated in FIG.13. If the operator selects the “PREFERENCES” button 1602, buttons 1603to 1606 corresponding to the second hierarchical layer 1216 illustratedin FIG. 13 are displayed. When the operator further selects a buttoncorresponding to an item to set from among the buttons 1603 to 1606,buttons 1607 to 1611 representing the items in the third hierarchicallayer 1217 corresponding to the button are displayed. When the operatorselects an item to set from among the items in the third hierarchicallayer 1217, buttons representing the items corresponding to the fourthhierarchical layer 1218 corresponding to the selected item aredisplayed. In FIG. 14, items surrounded by thick frames are the itemsselected by the operator. An input region 1613 is a region where theoperator inputs a setting value of the item selected with theabove-described button. The data setting screen 1601 illustrated in FIG.14 is a screen where the operator inputs the setting value in the formof a character string. Alternatively, the data setting screen 1601 maybe configured in such a manner that, depending on the item, settingvalues settable for the item that is set with the button are displayedas buttons, and the operator selects one setting value. An “OK” button1615 is a button used by the operator to complete the data setting. Whenthe operator selects the “OK” button 1615, the procedure input screen1505 is displayed on the display 208, and the operator can generate thenext setting information or work information. A “CANCEL” button 1614 isa button for discarding the setting set on the data setting screen 1601and returning to the procedure input screen 1505. If the “CANCEL” button1614 is selected, the procedure input screen 1505 is displayed withoutthe setting information being generated in correspondence with thesetting on the data setting screen 1601. The data setting screen 1601has been described using a case where the operator selects “PREFERENCES”button 1602 in FIG. 14. If selecting the other items 1616 to 1618, theoperator can set the setting or processing corresponding to the selecteditem for each of them. For example, if selecting the“ADJUSTMENT/MAINTENANCE SETTINGS” button 1616, the operator canconfigure settings regarding adjustments of the image quality and theprinting position, and an instruction to perform processing foradjusting the image quality and the printing position via the datasetting screen 1601.

In step S1009, after displaying the data setting screen 1601, the CPU201 receives an input of the setting content from the operator. Inresponse to the operator selecting the “OK” button 1615, the CPU 201advances the process to step S1010. In step S1010, the CPU 201 storesthe content set via the data setting screen 1601 into the DRAM 203 andreturns the process to step S1004. The setting information for settingone setting item of the MFP 105 is generated by performing theprocessing described in steps S1008 to S1010. The operator generates asmany pieces of setting information as the number of items that theoperator wants to set to the MFP 105 by operating the maintenanceterminal 102. Processing performed when the “CANCEL” button 1614 isselected on the data setting screen 1601 illustrated in FIG. 14 isomitted in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10. If the “CANCEL” button1614 is selected after step S1009, the CPU 201 discards the value set onthe data setting screen 1601, and returns the process to step S1004.

Next, the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10 will be further describedusing a case where the “SET WORK” button 1509 is selected in step S1007.The CPU 201 acquires, from the HDD 204, hardware configurationinformation of the MFP 105 corresponding to the device type of the MFP105 stored in the DRAM 203. The hardware configuration informationrefers to information expressing the hardware configuration of the MFP105 in a tree structure illustrated in FIG. 15. In the tree structureindicating the hardware configuration, a first hierarchical layer 1323stores therein the device targeted for the work. A second hierarchicallayer 1324 stores therein information indicating the portion on whichthe operator wants the user to perform the work with respect to each ofthe devices. Then, a third hierarchical layer 1325 stores thereininformation about a message indicating the work that the operator wantsthe user to perform on each of the portions. For example, if selectingthe scanner as the device targeted for the work and selecting a pressingplate as a portion to be worked on, the operator can instruct the userto set a document on the pressing plate as the work that the operatorwants the user to perform or to remove the document from the pressingplate as the work. The number assigned to each of the items in FIG. 15is information used by the CPU 201 to identify each of the items.

Then, in step S1011, the CPU 201 displays a work setting screen 1701illustrated in FIG. 16 to be displayed on the display 208 based on theacquired hardware configuration information. When the work settingscreen 1701 is displayed, only a “PRINTER” button 1702 and a “SCANNER”button 1703 are displayed at this stage. If the operator selects the“PRINTER” button 1702, a “CASSETTE 1” button to a “WASTE TONER” buttonplaced in the hierarchical layer immediately below “PRINTER” aredisplayed based on the tree structure illustrated in FIG. 15. If theoperator selects a “CASSETTE 3” button 1705, buttons 1711, 1712, and1713 each for setting a message indicating the work content in thehierarchical layer immediately below “CASSETTE 3” in FIG. 15 aredisplayed. The button 1711 is a button for displaying a messageindicating that the paper should be loaded into the cassette. The button1712 is a button for displaying a procedure for replacing a waste tonercontainer. The button 1713 is a button for displaying a procedure forreplacing a toner cartridge. A preview region 1716 on the work settingscreen 1701 illustrated in FIG. 16 is a region displaying a previewimage of an image that will be displayed on the LCD panel of theoperation unit 415 of the MFP 105 as a result of the setting configuredby the operator. The LCD panel of the operation unit 415 of the MFP 105displays an object indicating the portion on which the operator wantsthe user to perform the work, and a text indicating the work that theoperator wants the user to perform on the portion as illustrated in thepreview region 1716. The operator can check the screen that will bedisplayed on the LCD panel of the MFP 105 by viewing the image displayedin the preview region 1716. FIG. 16 illustrates a screen displayed onthe MFP 105 when the operator selects the “PRINTER” button 1702, the“CASSETTE 3” button 1705, and the “LOAD PAPER” button 1711.

In step S1012, the CPU 201 receives the setting of the work informationfrom the operator. When an “OK” button 1715 is selected, in step S1013,the CPU 201 stores the information set via the work setting screen 1701as the work information into the DRAM 203. Then, the CPU 201 returns theprocess to step S1004.

The operator repeatedly configures the settings in steps S1004 to S1013,thereby generating the setting information that the operator wants toset to the MFP 105 and the work information indicating the work that theoperator wants the user to perform in the course of the setting.Processing performed when the operator selects the “CANCEL” button 1714on the work setting screen 1701 is omitted in the flowchart illustratedin FIG. 10. If the operator selects the “CANCEL” button 1714 after stepS1012, the CPU 201 discards the content set on the work setting screen1701, and returns the process to step S1004.

The CPU 201 of the maintenance terminal 102 generates the maintenancedata in a data structure illustrated in FIG. 17 by performing theprocessing in steps S1001 to S1013.

An identification tag (serial number) 1101 is data indicating that acharacter string 1102 is the serial number of the MFP 105. The characterstring 1102 is data indicating the serial number of the MFP 105 that issaved in step S1003. An end tag 1103 indicates the end of the dataindicated based on the identification tag 1101. The end tag also servesas a tag indicating the end of one data block for the following data.

An identification tag (setting information) 1104 indicates that thepieces of data indicated with 1105 to 1107 described below are thesetting information generated in step S1010. The setting positioninformation 1105 is data indicating which item is set in each of thefirst hierarchical layer 1215 to the fourth hierarchical layer 1218illustrated in FIG. 13. The attribute 1106 is data indicating anattribute of the data 1107 input in the input region 1613. The attributeis, for example, data indicating a character string or a numericalvalue. The data 1107 is data indicating the setting value input in theinput region 1613 on the data setting screen 1601.

An identification tag (work information) 1108 is data indicating thatthe pieces of data indicated with 1109 and 1110 described below are thework information generated in step S1013. The work portion information1109 is data indicating which item is set in each of the firsthierarchical layer 1323 and the second hierarchical layer 1324illustrated in FIG. 15. A detailed operation 1110 is data indicatingwhich item is set in the third hierarchical layer 1325 illustrated inFIG. 15.

The pieces of data illustrated in FIG. 17 are arranged in the order inwhich the operator has set the setting information and the workinformation. Arranging the data in this manner allows the operator toset the data using the same procedure as that at the time of configuringthe setting and performing the work using the MFP 105. In FIG. 17, thesetting information and the work information are arranged in the orderin which the operator has set them. Information indicating the order inwhich the operator has set them may be added to each of the settinginformation and the work information. Adding the information indicatingthe order can further clarify the order in which the operator has setthem.

If the “TRANSMIT” button 1510 is selected in step S1005 (YES in stepS1005), in step S1014, the CPU 201 generates image data to be displayedon the LCD panel of the operation unit 415 of the MFP 105 based on thework information set by the operator. In step S1005, the CPU 201identifies data having the identification tag indicating the workinformation from the maintenance data illustrated in FIG. 17. The CPU201 generates the image data to be displayed on the operation unit 415of the MFP 105 with respect to the identified work information.

Processing of generating the image data will be described with referenceto FIGS. 18A and 18B. A table 1900 is a table stored in the HDD 204. Adevice type 1901 is the device type of an MFP that can be treated as thedestination to which the maintenance data will be transmitted. The CPU201 selects an image file to use from image files associated with thedevice type of the MFP 105 treated as the destination to which themaintenance data will be transmitted. Work portion information 1902 isinformation corresponding to the first hierarchical layer 1323, thesecond hierarchical layer 1324, and the third hierarchical layer 1325illustrated in FIG. 15, and includes information for identifying each ofthe items. For example, information 1905 is the work portion informationin a case where the operator selects “PRINTER (2000)”, “CASSETTE 3(2004)”, and “LOAD PAPER (0001)” on the work setting screen 1701. Animage file 1903 indicates the name of an image file corresponding toeach piece of work portion information 1902. For example, an image filecorresponding to 1905 is 1906, and the content thereof is an imageillustrated in FIG. 18B. The image used to notify the user of the workmay be a still image or may be a moving image. Alternatively, the imagemay be a file including a plurality of still images. In the case wherethe image includes the plurality of still images, the user displays theimages while switching them by operating the operation unit 415 of theMFP 105. In this manner, the user can understand the work procedure infurther detail.

In step S1015, the CPU 201 transmits the maintenance data to the MFP 105corresponding to the serial number input in step S1002. In step S1015,the CPU 201 transmits the maintenance data to the IP address stored instep S1003 as the destination.

Now, the data structure of the maintenance data transmitted to the MFP105 will be described with reference to FIG. 19. A data size 1409 is thedata size of the entire maintenance data. A serial number 1410 is dataindicating the serial number of the MFP 105. A number of data 1411 isdata indicating the number of pieces of data of the following settinginformation, work information, and work image. Pieces of settinginformation 1412, 1414, 1416, and 1417 are each the setting informationgenerated in step S1010 illustrated in FIG. 10 and are data structuredas indicated by 1104 to 1107 in FIG. 17. A work information number (1)1413 and a work information number (2) 1415 are each data indicatingthat there is the work information, and an instruction to display theimage generated by converting the work information structured asindicated by 1108 to 1110 in FIG. 17. A work image (1) 1418 is imagedata corresponding to the work information number (1) 1413, and is theimage data corresponding to the work information generated in step S1014illustrated in FIG. 10. A work image (2) 1419 is image datacorresponding to the work information number (2) 1415, and is the imagedata generated in step S1014. The CPU 201 transmits the settinginformation and the work information number to the MFP 105 in the orderin which the operator has set them. In FIG. 19, the work informationnumber is used as an index, and the work image corresponding to the workinformation number is added subsequently to all the pieces of settinginformation. Alternatively, the work image can be added to the positionwhere the work information number is illustrated in FIG. 19, and themaintenance terminal 102 can transmit the maintenance data in which thesetting information and the work image are arranged in order to the MFP105.

The CPU 201 transmits the maintenance data illustrated in FIG. 19 to theMFP 105, and ends the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the operator arranges the settinginformation and the work information number in the order in which theoperator has set them, and transmits them to the MFP 105. Alternatively,an “EDIT” button can be displayed on the procedure input screen 1505,and a screen on which the operator can change the order of the settinginformation and the work information set by the operator until that timecan be displayed when the operator selects the “EDIT” button. Thisscreen allows the operator to change the order by selecting the “EDIT”button even if the operator inadvertently sets the setting informationand the work information in order different from the intended order.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the MFP 105after the MFP 105 receives the maintenance data from the maintenanceterminal 102. The processing illustrated in the flowchart is implementedby the CPU 401 executing the program stored in the HDD 416. Theprocessing illustrated in FIG. 20 is started after the MFP 105 isstarted up.

In step S2001, the CPU 401 determines whether the network I/F 405 hasreceived the maintenance data. The CPU 401 analyzes the received data,and determines whether the received data is the maintenance data basedon whether the data contains the identification tag indicating thesetting information or the work information.

If the received data is not the maintenance data (NO in step S2001), theCPU 401 performs processing corresponding to the received data, andreturns the process to step S2001. If the received data is themaintenance data (YES in step S2001), in step S2002, the CPU 401 loadsthe maintenance data into the DRAM 404. Then, the CPU 401 analyzes themaintenance data loaded into the DRAM 404 in order from the top to thebottom.

In step S2003, the CPU 401 determines whether the identification tag isthe tag indicating the setting information. If the identification tag isthe tag indicating the setting information (YES in step S2003), in stepS2004, the CPU 401 identifies the setting item based on the settingposition information 1105, the attribute 1106, and the data 1107 thatfollow the identification tag, and stores the setting value into theDRAM 404. For example, a case is cited where 0001/0001/0002/0001 is setin the setting position information 1105, a character string is set inthe attribute 1106, and “A/B SIZE” is set in the data 1107 that followthe identification tag indicating the setting information detected instep S2003. The CPU 401 sets “A/B SIZE” on the screen that is displayedby the user operating the operation unit 415 and selecting “PAPERSETTINGS”, “PAPER SIZE FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION”, and “PAPER SIZE FORDETECTION IN CASSETTE 3” on the screen for setting the preferences.Then, the CPU 401 stores the setting value into the DRAM 404. The CPU401 acquires the positions of the paper guides in the cassette 3,selects the paper size in terms of an A/B size that corresponds to theacquired information, and stores it into the DRAM 404 as the sizecorresponding to the cassette 3.

If the identification tag does not indicate the setting information instep S2003 (NO in step S2003), in step S2005, the CPU 401 determinesthat the identification tag is the tag indicating the work informationand displays the work image corresponding to the work information tag onthe display of the operation unit 415. As a result, the screenillustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed on the LCD panel of the operationunit 415. The CPU 401 controls the display on the LCD panel of theoperation unit 415 in this manner

In step S2006, the CPU 401 determines whether the “CANCEL” button 3102is selected. If the “CANCEL” button 3102 is selected (YES in stepS2006), the CPU 401 ends the processing illustrated in the presentflowchart. In other words, the CPU 401 ends the processing withoutperforming the processing based on the setting information and the workinformation subsequent to the present work image.

If the “CANCEL” button 3102 is not selected (NO in step S2006), in stepS2007, the CPU 401 determines whether the “OK” button 3101 is selected.If the “OK” button 3101 is not selected (NO in step S2007), the CPU 401returns the process to step S2006. If the “OK” button 3101 is selected(YES in step S2007), in step S2008, the CPU 401 determines whether allthe processing has been completed on the received maintenance data. Forexample, the CPU 401 determines that all the processing on themaintenance data has been completed if the data reception has beencompleted for as many pieces of data as the number of pieces of data setin the number of data 1411 in the maintenance data illustrated in FIG.19. The method for determining whether the reception of the maintenancedata has been completed may be a method different from theabove-described method. For example, in response to the selection of the“TRANSMIT” button 1510 in step S1005 illustrated in FIG. 10, the CPU 201of the maintenance terminal 102 adds information indicating the end ofthe maintenance data to the maintenance data, and transmits themaintenance data to the MFP 105. The CPU 401 of the MFP 105 analyzes thereceived data, and determines that the processing performed on themaintenance data has been completed if the analyzed data is theinformation indicating the end of the maintenance data.

If all the processing on the maintenance data has been completed (YES instep S2008), the CPU 401 ends the processing illustrated in FIG. 20.After ending the processing illustrated in FIG. 20, the CPU 401 startsthe processing illustrated in FIG. 20 again to receive new maintenancedata. If not all the processing on the maintenance data has beencompleted (NO in step S2008), the CPU 401 returns the process to stepS2003.

The MFP 105 interprets the data received from the maintenance terminal102 in order from the top to bottom, and configures the setting anddisplays the work screen in order. In this manner, the user can performthe work and configure the setting in the order that the operator hasset the setting information and the work information. Thus, regardingprocessing in which the order of the setting and the work is determined,the user can configure the setting and perform the work in compliancewith this order.

In this manner, the MFP 105 can be set even without requiring a serviceengineer to directly operate the MFP 105 by generating the maintenancedata containing the setting information and the work information on themaintenance terminal 102 and causing the MFP 105 to configure thesetting based on this maintenance data. Further, the operator cancomplete the generation of the data required for the setting withoutwaiting for the completion of the work by the user.

Further, the operator can notify the user of the work that is to beperformed by the user by displaying the work that the operator wants theuser to perform on the operation unit 415 of the MFP 105 based on thework information contained in the maintenance data.

In the present exemplary embodiment, after the entire maintenance datahas been completed on the maintenance terminal 102, the maintenanceterminal 102 collectively transmits the completed maintenance data tothe MFP 105. However, the maintenance terminal 102 may be configured totransmit the setting information, the work information number, and thework image individually in order. For example, if the operator selectsthe “TRANSMIT” button 1510 on the procedure input screen 1505, themaintenance terminal 102 transmits the first setting information to theMFP 105. After configuring the setting based on the received settinginformation, the MFP 105 transmits a notification indicating thecompletion of the setting to the maintenance terminal 102. In responseto reception of the notification indicating the completion of thesetting, the maintenance terminal 102 transmits the next settinginformation or the next set of work information number and work image tothe MFP 105. When the maintenance terminal 102 transmits the workinformation number and the work image to the MFP 105, the MFP 105outputs a notification indicating the completion of the work to themaintenance terminal 102 in response to the user selecting the “OK”button 3101 on the remote setting screen illustrated in FIG. 9. Themaintenance terminal 102 receives the notification indicating thecompletion of the work, and transmits the next setting information orthe next set of work information number and work image to the MFP 105.The maintenance terminal 102 may be configured to repeat the operationuntil completing the transmission of all the pieces of work informationand setting information generated by the operator. The maintenanceterminal 102 may be configured to transmit only the work image insteadof transmitting the set of work information number and work image in thecase where the maintenance terminal 102 does not collectively transmitthe maintenance data in the above-described manner

In the present exemplary embodiment, it has been described that theoperator selects whether to set the data or set the work on theprocedure input screen 1505 and generates the setting information andthe work information. The maintenance terminal 102 may be configured tocause the operator to set the work subsequent to setting the data basedon the selected setting information. For example, when the operatorselects “PAPER SETTINGS” 1603 as illustrated in FIG. 14 on the datasetting screen 1601 and generates the setting information, conceivablework subsequent thereto is work of placing the paper into the cassetteto which the paper setting is applied. The maintenance terminal 102 maybe configured to display the work setting screen 1701 without displayingthe procedure input screen 1505 after the operator selects the “PAPERSETTINGS” 1603 and selects the “OK” button 1615 at this time.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the maintenance terminal 102generates the image data for the display corresponding to the workinformation set by the operator, and transmits the generated image datato the MFP 105.

Alternatively, the maintenance terminal 102 can transmit the workinformation set by the operator directly to the MFP 105 as the workinformation, and the MFP 105 generates the image data for the displayfrom the received work information.

Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, a case has been describedwhere the user loads the new paper into the paper cassette andconfigures setting of the paper by way of example. Besides that, thepresent exemplary embodiment may be applied to adjustment of the coloror the image quality of a printed image or replacement of consumablessuch as a cartridge containing toner or ink and a waste toner containerby using the present information processing system.

The present invention can also be implemented by performing thefollowing processing. Specifically, the present invention can also beimplemented by processing of supplying software (program) capable ofimplementing the functions of the above-described exemplary embodimentto a system or an apparatus via a network or various kinds of storagemedia, and causing a computer (or CPU or micro processing unit (MPU)) ofthe system or apparatus to read out and execute the program code. Inthis case, the computer program and the storage medium storing thecomputer program will constitute the present invention.

The information processing system according to the present exemplaryembodiment allows the operator to set the instruction for configuringthe setting required after the manual work by the user without waitingfor the completion of the manual work by the user.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: acontroller including a processor, the controller configured to: receive,from an external apparatus, an instruction for setting a setting value;display information indicating work desired to be performed by a useroperating the image forming apparatus and regarding the receivedinstruction; and set the setting value according to the receivedinstruction.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the setting value is a setting value related to recording mediumto be used for image forming.
 3. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the setting value related to the recording medium isa setting value indicating a size of the recording medium.
 4. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting valuerelated to the recording medium is a media type of the recording medium.5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the work iswork that a user sets the recording medium to a cassette.
 6. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cassette isindicated by the instruction.
 7. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive auser instruction indicating completion of the work; and set, as aresponse to the user instruction, the setting value according to thereceived instruction.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine theinformation to be displayed based on the received instruction.
 9. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controllerexecutes process for image forming based on the setting value set basedon the received instruction.
 10. An image forming apparatus comprising:a display; and a controller including a processor, the controllerconfigured to: receive, from an external apparatus, an instructionincluding first information indicating a cassette and second informationindicating a media type of recording medium set to the cassette;display, on the display, information indicating work for a user to setrecording medium a type of which is indicated by the second informationto the cassette indicated by the first information; and set the mediatype of the recording medium indicated by the indicated secondinformation corresponding to the cassette indicated by the indicatedfirst information.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim10, wherein the controller is configured to: receive a user instructionindicating completion of the work; and set the media type of therecording medium indicated by the second information corresponding tothe cassette indicated by the indicated first information.
 12. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: an imageforming unit configured to form an image on recording medium conveyedfrom the cassette based on information related to the media type. 13.The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein theinformation is a message indicating for a user to set the recordingmedium a type of which is the media type indicated by the secondinformation to the cassette.
 14. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 10, wherein the received instruction including thirdinformation indicating a size of the recording medium and the controllersets the size indicated by the third information corresponding to thecassette indicated by the first information.
 15. The image formingapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: cancel, based on another user instruction, the settingbased on the first information and the second information.
 16. A methodfor controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:receiving, from an external apparatus, an instruction for setting asetting value; displaying information indicating work desired to beperformed by a user operating the image forming apparatus and regardingthe received instruction; and setting the setting value according to thereceived instruction.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein thesetting value is a setting value indicating a size of a recording mediumor a media type of the recording medium.
 18. The method according toclaim 16, wherein the work is work that a user sets the recordingmaterial to a cassette.